This online prank will destroy your Xbox One console. Do not attempt. Source: suppliedSource:Supplied

FAKE instructions showing Xbox One owners how to &quot;hack&quot; their console to play old Xbox 360 games has been leaving consoles bricked and completely useless.

Daily Dot has reported that website 4chan, which also conned soppy iPhone owners earlier this year into thinking the new iOS will make their mobiles waterproof, has returned to wreak havoc among the unsuspecting public this time by posting a way to unlock backwards compatibility to play old games.

The instructions carry Xbox branding and look quite genuine but DO NOT be fooled. This is an evil prank that causes Xbox One consoles to "brick" rendering them utterly useless. And there are no instructions to fix it.

It's understandable that some Xbox One owners would be keen to try this hack out as not being able to play catalogues of old 360 games bought over the years was one of the bugbears of the new console. But even Xbox Live big cheese Larry Hryb has waded in by stating there is no way for backwards compatibility and to stay away from the 4chan instructions.

To be clear there is no way to make your Xbox One backwards compatible & performing steps to attempt this could make your console inoperable

Not being able to play your old Xbox 360 games on the new Xbox One is one of the crosses we have to bear so we advise ignoring any instructions saying you can, unless it's an official announcement from Microsoft.